Liquid crystal display module and fastening structure thereof

ABSTRACT

A LCD module comprises a LCD cell, a back light module and a pair of fastening structure including the first frame and the second frame, both capable of joining one with the other. The first frame, which can support the back light module, has a first locking mechanism on its edge, and the second frame, which is around the side of the display area of the LCD cell, has a second locking mechanism adjacent to its edge. By the combination the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism, the LCD cell and the back light module can be fastened together.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/702,784 filed Nov. 5, 2003, and is based on and claims priority from Taiwanese Patent Application No. 092200336 filed Jan. 8, 2003 and Taiwanese Patent Application No. 092206310 filed Apr. 21, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) module and fastening structure thereof, and more particularly to a fastening structure capable of assembling a LCD cell and a back light module together and firmly fixing them.

2. Description of the Related Art

LCD modules have widely been applied in the monitors of computers, especially notebook computers, which specially need thin, light and low-power displays. Hence, this obviously shows the LCD modules are so important that they cannot be replaced. With the aim to reduce the thickness for assembling the LCD modules, the side-mounting technology is proposed in the specification of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,537 (hereafter known as Patent '537) entitled “Computer Having Liquid Crystal Display between Frames Attached at the Edges” to meet the need of thinning of the LCD modules.

FIG. 1 is an explosive diagram of the assembling components of the LCD module 10 disclosed in the Patent '537. A back light module 13 and a LCD cell 14 are superimposed on a first frame 11 sequentially, and a second frame 12 is set around the LCD cell 14. A plurality of through holes 121 are on the lateral surfaces of the second frame 12. The second frame 12 is mounted to the first frame 11 using screws 60 through the through holes 121 and screw holes 111 on the first frame 11. Comparing the Patent '537 with the prior art in which the side frame of the second frame is vertically mounted to the first frame by a screw from the front (display area) of the second frame 12, the Patent '537 can definitely reduce the size of the fastening structure. However, a screwdriver is required to fix the first frame 11 and the second frame 12 together by a screw 60 for assembling the LCD module 10 disclosed in the Patent '537. In this way, there takes a lot of efforts and time to complete screwdriver jobs for all screws 60, and then get the combination of FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 2 respectively. Moreover, the screws get stripped readily during assembling, making rework very hard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an LCD module and fastening structure thereof, wherein a pair of locking mechanisms is installed on the edge of the first frame and the second frame and can be used for joining them together. Hence, it can provide a fastening structure for assembling the frames conveniently so as to reduce the work required for assembling them, thereby reducing the working time. Moreover, during the assembly process, no tools are required for assembling.

In order to achieve the objective, the present invention discloses an LCD module and fastening structure thereof. The LCD module comprises a LCD cell, a back light module and a pair of fastening structure including the first frame and the second frame, both capable of joining one with the other. The first frame, which can support the back light module, has a first locking mechanism on its edge, and the second frame, which is around the side of the display area of the LCD cell, has a second locking mechanism adjacent to its edge. By the combination the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism, the LCD cell and the back light module can be fastened together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described according to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an explosive diagram of the assembling components of a LCD module disclosed in the Patent '537;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of the assembly of the LCD module in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3(a)-3(g) are perspective diagrams and cross-section diagrams of the first embodiment of the LCD module in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 4(a)-4(f) are perspective diagrams and cross-section diagrams of the second embodiment of the LCD module in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) are perspective diagrams and cross-section diagrams of the third embodiment of the LCD module in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 6(a)-6(b) are perspective diagrams and cross-section diagrams of the fourth embodiment of the LCD module in accordance with the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 3(a) is a perspective diagram of the first embodiment of the LCD module 30 in accordance with the present invention. The side 321 of a second frame 32 covers the side 311 of a first frame 31. A pair of locking mechanisms formed on the two sides 321 and 311 respectively is used to join the second frame 32 and the first frame 31 closely together. The pair of locking mechanisms can fasten the frames 31, 32 and the LCD cell 14 together by engaging the protrusion of one frame with the hollow of another frame, without the need to use the other fastening parts, such as screws and bolts.

FIG. 3(b) is a cross-section diagram along the line 1-1 of the LCD module 30 in FIG. 3(a). The first frame 31 supports the base of a back light module 13 with its four sides 311 extending upward. The LCD cell 14 is superimposed on the back light module 13. First locking mechanisms 312 as protrusions are formed on the sides 311 of the first frame 31, and are interlocked with the second locking mechanisms 322 as hollows formed on the second frame 32. In this way, the back light module 13 and the LCD cell 14 can be fixed between the first frame 31 and the second frame 32. The first locking mechanism 312 can be a cylinder or a sphere bump. This shape depends on the tolerances of the first frame 31 and the second frame 32, as well as the location distribution and the quantity of the first locking mechanisms 312 and the second locking mechanisms 322.

In general, the above-mentioned frames are made of two types of materials, namely metals and plastics. Metallic frames can be formed by stamping stainless steel, aluminum, or galvanized steel plates, and plastic frames can be formed by injecting plastic materials, such as PC (Polycarbonate) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), into an injection mold. Hence, it is possible to rearrange the interlocking way of the first locking mechanism 312 and the second locking mechanism 322 by changing the design of the stamping or injection molds. As shown in FIG. 3(c), a rectangular first locking mechanism 312 c is provided on the side 311 c of the first frame 31 c so that the first locking mechanism 312 c is completely interlocked inside the hollow-shaped second locking mechanism 322.

As shown in FIG. 3(d), it is also possible to design the first locking mechanism 312 d on the side 311 d of the first frame 31 d as a hollow. Accordingly, the second locking mechanism 322 d on the side 321 d of the second frame 32 d is as an inward spherical-shaped or cylindrical-shaped bump.

As shown in FIG. 3(e), it is also possible to design the first locking mechanism 312 d on the side 311 d of the first frame 31 d as a hollow. Accordingly, the second locking mechanism 322 e on the side 321 e of the second frame 32 e can be an inward rectangular-shaped bump.

Furthermore, we can provide a first locking mechanism 313 f on the upper side of an edge 311 f and a second locking mechanism 323 f adjacent to the edge 321 f, as shown in FIG. 3(f). In comparison with FIG. 3(b), besides the first locking mechanism 313 f is interlocked with the second locking mechanism 323 f in the parallel direction of the lateral of the edge 311 f, a first locking mechanism 312 is also interlocked with the second locking mechanism 322 in the vertical direction of the lateral of the edge 311 f. Therefore, the first frame 31 f and the second frame 32 f can be firmly joined together.

Similarly, a first locking mechanism 313 g and a second locking mechanism 323 g are dividedly provided on the upper side of an edge 31 g and around the edge 321 g. The first frame 31 g and the second frame 32 g also can be firmly joined together by one pair of locking mechanisms, if the second locking mechanism 323 g is inserted into the first locking mechanism 313 g without any tolerance.

FIG. 4(a) is a perspective diagram of the second embodiment of the LCD module 40 in accordance with the present invention. The side 421 of the second frame 42 is inserted into the sidewall 411 of the first frame 41, and the LCD cell 14 is between the frames 41 and 42. The second frame 42 is closely joined to the first frame 41 by means of the locking units installed on the side 421 and the sidewall 411 respectively.

FIG. 4(b) is a cross-section diagram along the line 2-2 of the LCD module 40 in FIG. 4(a). The first frame 41 supports the base of the back light module 13 with its four sidewalls 411 extending upward to the bottom edge of a LCD cell 14. The LCD cell 14 is superimposed on the back light module 13. The sidewall 411 of the first frame 41 has a slot 413 into which the side 421 of the second frame 42 is inserted. The slot 413 is equipped with the first locking mechanism, the concave hollow, 412 and can allow of the insertion of the second locking mechanism, the convex bump, 422 on the side 421 of the second frame 42. In order to ensure that the second frame 42 and the first frame 41 can be separated during a later rework process, it is necessary to make a through hole 414 on the side wall 411, just put a pin-like hand tool deep into the through hole 414 and then lightly press the second locking mechanism 422 so as to lift the second frame 42 vertically.

In contrast to FIG. 4(b), FIG. 4(c) shows that the second locking mechanism 422 c on the side 421 c of the second frame 42 c is turned into an inward-convex bump, and the first locking mechanism, the inward-concave hollow, 412 c associated with the inward-convex bump has to be provided in a slot 413. Hence, the side 421 c of the second frame 42 c can be completely embedded and fixed in the sidewall 411 c of the first frame 41 c.

In addition, FIG. 4(d) shows that the present invention can make good use of stamping, a good property of metals in forming. A bent and convex second locking mechanism 422 d is formed on the side 421 d of a second frame 42 d. The second locking mechanism 422 d is interlocked with the concave first locking mechanism, the concave hollow, 412 inside the slot 413 of a sidewall 411 of the first frame 41, and the elasticity of the second locking mechanism 422 d is conducive to locking the second locking mechanism 422 d and the first locking mechanism 412 tightly. In this way, the side 421 d of the second frame 42 d can be completely embedded and fixed in the sidewall 411 of the first frame 41. On the other hand, in order to ensure that the second frame 42 d and first frame 41 can be separated in a future, it is necessary to make a through hole 414 on the side wall 411, just put a pin-like hand tool deep into the through hole 414 and then lightly press the bent part of the second locking mechanism 422 d so as to lift the second frame 42 d vertically.

FIG. 4(e) is a perspective diagram of the second locking mechanism in FIG. 4(d). Cut three sides of a rectangle on the plate of the side 421 d and then form the second locking mechanism by bending outward against the uncut base edge as a fulcrum.

In contrast to FIG. 4(d), FIG. 4(f) shows that the second locking mechanism 422 f on a side 421 f of the second frame 42 f is turned into an inward-convex bend so that a first locking mechanism, the inward-concave hollow, 412 c inside the slot 413 c of a sidewall 411 c of the first frame 41 c associated with the inwardly convex bend has to be provided on the left inner wall of the slot 413. Hence, the side 421 f of the second frame 42 f can be completely embedded and fixed in the sidewall 411 c of the first frame 41 c. Although the above-mentioned discloses that the shapes of the second locking mechanism 422 d and 422 f are like an convex bend and an inward-convex bend, respectively, this does not restrict the scope of the present invention, because the same locking effect may be achieved if the second locking mechanisms 422 d and 422 f look like a herringbone or other like mechanisms.

FIG. 5(a) is a perspective diagram of the third embodiment of the LCD module in accordance with the present invention. The side 521 of a second frame 52 has a plurality of convex bends 522 which can be embedded in the concave hole 512 of the sidewall 511 of the first frame 51. The formation of the convex bend 522 is the same as the method disclosed in FIG. 4(e), and the concave hole 512 is a convex locking mechanism stamped and formed on the plate of the sidewall 511. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when the second frame 52 is joined with the first frame 51, an the convex bend 522 will be locked inside the concave hole 512 accordingly and even clipped in a cleavage, thereby causing a better fixing effect. On the other hand, we can also bend bent springs toward the LCD cell 14 and have corresponding concave holes.

In contrast to FIG. 5(b), FIG. 5(c) shows that a groove 512 c of the sidewall 511 c of the first frame 51 c does not have any cleavage, but the convex bend 522 can be against on the inner surface of the groove 512 c. In order to ensure that the second frame 52 and first frame 51 c can be separated after interlocking with each other, it is necessary to make a through hole 513 c on the base of the groove 512 c, just put a pin-like hand tool deep into the through hole 513 c and turn the convex bend 522 to a adequate position so as to lift the second frame 52 upwardly. On the other hand, we can also bend bent springs toward the LCD cell 14 and have corresponding grooves and through holes.

To ensure that a first frame 61 is joined to a second frame 62 more tightly, the present invention further proposes the fourth embodiment of the LCD module 70, as shown in FIG. 6(a) a perspective diagram. The sidewall 611 of the first frame 61 is equipped with a first locking mechanism 612 and the side 621 of a second frame 62 is correspondingly equipped with a second locking mechanism 622. By interlocking the first locking mechanism 612 and the second locking mechanism 622, the first frame 61 and the second frame 62 can be completely positioned. In other words, clearance remaining parallel to or vertical to the base of the back light module 13 can be removed.

FIG. 6(b) is an enlarging diagram of the portion A in FIG. 6(a). A first locking mechanism 612 includes a holding part 615 convexly provided on a sidewall 611. The middle of the holding part 615 has a long slot 613 that allows a second locking mechanism 622 to through it from below. The second bent part 623 of the second locking mechanism 622 extends beyond the long slot 613 and the plasticity of its material enables it to bend toward a thin concave 614 so as to constrain its vertical displacement in the upward and the downward direction. As the surface of the first bent part 624 of the second locking mechanism 622 is against at the sidewall of the long slot 613 and the first bent part 624 is as long as the long slot 613 approximately, the long slot 613 exactly constrains the relative horizontal displacement (parallel to the base of the back light module 13, and not shown here) of the second locking mechanism 622 in forward, backward, leftward, and rightward directions. As shown in FIG. 6(b), the holding part 615 has a left and a right portion apart from each other, but the two portions also can be made as one.

On the other hand, the second bent part 623 adjacent to the sidewall 6142 of the thin concave 614 is bent inwardly. The base 6231 of the second bent part 623 and the base 6141 of the thin concave 614 presses against each other, eliminating any vertical clearance (perpendicular to the base of the back light module 13, and not shown here) between the first frame 61 and the second frame 62.

To separate the first frame 61 and the second frame 62, it is only necessary to straighten the second bent part 623 in the direction of the holding part 615. In this way, the second locking mechanism 622 can be extracted from the long slot 613. It is better to have the second frame 62 formed by stamping and cutting metallic plates. Plasticity and elasticity of metallic materials can be employed to achieve the best fixing effect.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

1. An liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal display cell; a back light module joined with the liquid crystal display cell; a first frame holding the back light module and having at least one first locking mechanism which is a protrusion or a hollow; and a second frame on the liquid crystal display cell and having at least one second locking mechanism which is a hollow or a inward-protrusion; wherein the first locking mechanism is interlocked with the second locking mechanism, and the interlocking position is selected from the group consisting of the lateral side, the upper side and both the lateral and the upper side of the first frame and the second frame.
 2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is selected from the group consisting of a cylinder bump, a sphere bump and a rectangular bump.
 3. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the inward-protrusion is selected from the group consisting of a cylinder bump, a sphere bump and a rectangular bump.
 4. A liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal display cell; a back light module joined with the liquid crystal display cell; a first frame holding the back light module and having at least one first locking mechanism; and a second frame on the liquid crystal display cell and having at least one second locking mechanism; wherein the first locking mechanism is inserted into the second locking mechanism, and the interlocking position is on the lateral side of lateral of the first frame and the second frame; wherein the first locking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a slot, a hollow, a groove and a hole, and the second locking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a bump and a bent.
 5. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the groove is inward-concave hollow or a concave hollow.
 6. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the groove is an inward-concave groove or a concave groove.
 7. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the hole is an inward-concave hole or a concave hole.
 8. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the bump is a convex bump or an inward-convex bump.
 9. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the bent is a convex bent or an inward-convex bent.
 10. An liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal display cell; a back light module joined with the liquid crystal display cell; a first frame holding the back light module and having at least one flexible concave provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the first frame; and a second frame covering the liquid crystal display cell, the second frame smaller than the first frame in length and width, and having at least one flexible bent provided on a side of the second frame; wherein the flexible bent is embedded in the flexible concave.
 11. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein the flexible concave further comprises a through hole.
 12. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein the flexible concave is a triangle protrusion on the inner surface of the sidewall of the first frame.
 13. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein the triangle protrusion has a slit with which the flexible bent is interfered. 